Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Workdesk Wednesday and Christmas Cards

 This will be my last What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday until August 21 as I'll not be at my desk!  I'll be in Wyoming visiting our son, his girlfriend, and a granddaughter, her hubby, and our GREAT grandson! I'll be leaving on Friday (day after tomorrow) and have been feverishly making cards so that I'll have posts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  But I'll have my laptop with me and will be checking my blog daily.

But now for my desk....


This is the view as I finished my last card I needed to have posts through Aug. 19. Yep, I made 8 cards in the last few days with lots of inspiration from Pinterest and blogs that I blurf (blog surf).  I still have to finish 2 posts but the cards are uploaded and ready  So now....  this desk is brought to you by Julia Dunnit and the Stamping Ground.  She started this 217 Wednesdays ago.  What a fabulous thing she has done to bring crafters from all over the world into one GIANT blog hop!! I won't be able to check out many myself as I still need to wash laundry, pack my suitcase, get some meals made for hubby (he's not going with me, I'm driving 1500 miles one way by myself), and what not that needs to be done.  And Thursday I have to work a couple hours cleaning at our church.  So please, leave a comment for me then click through to Julia's blog and start blurfing.

Last week I was working on my Christmas cards to match the A6 envelopes I recently made.  Here's a couple more...


I found some Core-dinations paper in my stash that is black and blue.  I decided to emboss it with the Cuttlebug Snowflake embossing folder then sanded it to bring out the blue.  I added a strip of the snowflake paper but what you can't see is the small rhinestones in the middle of each of the 4 snowflakes!  This card will need to be turned inside out to prevent tearing the envelope when mailing as the envelope is just pattern paper, not card stock.


This paper is a bit vintage but I don't have ANY vintage Christmas stamps!  But I think what I chose works just fine.  Stamped images are from The Angel Company (boy, I miss that company!).


I did take a close up so you can see the Stardust Clear Gel pen lines I added.  Did you see Santa's mustache?  I had a bit of bleeding from the face into the 'stache and didn't catch it until too late.  Oh well...

I still have a couple more envelopes that need cards.  Stay tuned!  I'm enjoying Christmas in July but I will be making Christmas cards for the rest of the year to build up my stash.  I ran out of cards last year so want to have about 40 or so for this year.  I think I need to count what I have.  I sure do like my Envelope Punch Board!

So don't forget to leave me a little comment then click HERE to go to England and start your tour!

Monday, July 29, 2013

Christmas Cards and Matching Envelopes

Did you see the envelopes I made in my last post?  I started making some Christmas cards to match them.


The paper for the card and envelope is from a paper pack I've had forever, it seems, by Paperbilities.  I don't remember where or when I got this but it has moved with us a few times.  I will add a 2" x 4" white label to the envelope for the address.  The stamped images are from The Angel Company.


I took this picture recently.  Look close.  These are the peppers I'm growing but there's an intruder.  Our cat has discovered this and it has become her favorite place to sleep when outside.  What a hoot!  I just hope she doesn't break the plants.  I've already lost a couple plants.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Christmas Envelopes

I told you (I think) about the We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board I purchased.  Well, I finally made some envelopes.  Please look back on my last post as to the board before use and with 1 envelope in the process.  All I have for you today is a pic of the envelopes.  Makes for a small post.


These are A6 size for 4"x 6" cards.  I've been asked to make some Christmas Card kits similar to THESE and they take this size envy.  I doubt I'll sell as they don't match the cards but I can make cards for me to match these envelopes.  I also like to buy clothing to match my jewelry.  Do you do that??

Wednesday as I was making dinner I "sliced" off the tip of my right hand ring finger.  Pain, blood, throbbing... yep, not good.  I haven't gone to a doctor because it's not stitch-able so I now have some fingertip bandaids to help keep it covered.  Hopefully it'll be feeling much better by next Friday when I head north to see kids.  But typing my posts is painful.  That finger will no longer have a nice round tip but a flat one.  And, I am right handed so this may make crafting a bit interesting.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Wednesday Workdesk and Wallets

Glorious Wednesday!  Time to go blurfing (blog surfing) all over the world!  Yep, it's that day when you need your favorite beverage and some time at your computer and view other crafters' work desks and any projects they want to share.  Thanks to Julia Dunnit at the Stamping Ground for organizing this fun event. And on to my desk....


I recently purchased the Envelope Punch Board by We R Memory Keepers.  This board is fabulous!  It's what's taking up my desk space today.


On it you can make envelopes from Gift Card size to 12.2" x 21.6" (if you have a large enough sheet of paper).  But I'm not going to show you any envelopes until later.  I have something else to show you today.


Many years ago when we lived in northwest Wyoming I took part in a large craft fair the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  I learned to make fabric wallets and in a 5 year span I sold over 200 of those rascals by the time we moved in 2002!  I was called the "wallet lady" when I went into our local fabric store to purchase  double-sided quilted fabric.  I haven't made any for the last 8 years and recently my wallet gave up.  So this is my new wallet!  I love bright colors!  Harder to lose your wallet.....


Here you see the first open area.  There is the place for paper money, a coin holder, and a place to keep your credit cards or whatever.


And the second open area that has a place for a writing pen and your checkbook and register.  I've already gotten interest in these from the gals at the new Joanns Craft store in Green Valley, AZ and my bank teller.  Guess when I get home from Wyoming mid August I need to get some made.  I have about 30 already cut out (from 8 years ago).  I sell them for $20 each and they're totally washable but drip dry.

So now please click HERE to go to Julia's blog and check out the vast assortment of blogs and desks!!   And by golly, the hop has started!!!

Monday, July 22, 2013

Layered for Christmas

I have purchased some cool dies by Spellbinders but they are very intricate and I have a heck of a time getting the little bits and pieces of cut papers out of the dies.  I recently purchased some craft foam by Cheery Lynn Designs and, after watching a video on their web site, I think I fixed the problem.


Here you see the foam in the areas where the paper will be cut out.


Here is the die cut with the die.  I did have to use a bit of thin chip board in my Big Shot's "sandwich" but the pieces cut nicely from the card stock and I had NO little pieces stuck in the die!  How wonderful!!


And here's my card.  I think I have a gal wanting a card kit but with different papers.  A good sign since my Christmas in July class got canceled. This is made with left over paper from making 3 class kits, 2 were requested and 1 for some extra $$.


My hubby was quite impressed with all the layers and this card was a lot faster with that release foam in the dies!  The stamp is a The Angel Company one.  So, what do you think??

I will be busting my buns getting stuff done for the next 2 weeks as I'm going to Wyoming to see kids, grand kids, and a great grand son!  So, if I go "missing" for a few days without a project, please don't worry!  I'LL BE BACK!  LOL!

Friday, July 19, 2013

Art Deco Style

I was given a free set of stamps by Papermania a while back and had to buy some paper to even make a card.  The set screamed for golds and blacks and the sample from a magazine (docrafts Creativity Nov/Dec 2012 edition from England) backed up that thought.  Now I'm not a big fan of Art Deco but I did enjoy the movie Xanadu starring Olivia Newton-John.  (Did I just date myself???)  The roller skating rink in this movie is of the Art Deco style, at least to me.


I colored her with Copic markers and you can see that the paper has a bit of a sheen.


I used the Stardust Clear Gel pen on some of the feathers, dress & shawl trim, and jewelry. This stamp set will be included in that huge stash I was given as a donation for auction for Tucson's Crops of Love at a retreat in October.  It's just not my style. I actually enjoyed the magazine way more than the stamps!

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

It's Workdesk Wednesday!

It's a beautiful morning.... rain-soaked ground, temperature is 71* F, cloudy, fresh smelling outdoors.  Love it!  We need the rain and I love a good slow one.  It's the hard rains that bother me with the lightening, thunder, and flash floods.  Anyway, today you get to see my desk!  Yep, it's the day that Julia of the Stamping Ground organizes an international blog hop!  And I've been busy.


I supposedly have a class on Thursday afternoon but unless 1 more signs up it'll be canceled.  AZ Scrapbooking is doing their Christmas in July this week and I had a card, oversized tag, and a treat box prepared.  Right now I'm working on die cutting LOTS of snowflakes from the Spellbinders Create-a-Flake die (which is no longer available).  Later today I'll be cutting paper, printing directions, and packaging the kits. So you see on my desk the die holder on the far left, my Big Shot with dies ready to cut in the middle, and snowflakes on the right.  This is a good way to use up scraps....


Early this morning I looked out on my back porch and my cute little lights were dripping with raindrops.  I grabbed my trusty camera and this is the 3rd attempt to get a decent photo.  Yep, it was dark out still, about 5:15 am mountain standard time (AZ doesn't do daylight saving time).


And this is one of my cards I made this week.  I seen it on Michelle Zindorf's blog and I love her work. Stamps by The Angel Company (tree) and Red Rubber Designs (sentiment).



Here's a little closer look.  Sometimes I can do a good job with my brayer and I lucked out on this card. Usually I have lines or streaks from the brayer edge.

I hope you join in on the wide variety of desks and projects by clicking HERE when you're done reading my post to head over to Julia's blog.  And if you'd be so kind, leave a comment!  I enjoy reading what you all think of my projects and photos!  Thanks!

Monday, July 15, 2013

Butterfly and Flowers

I had a scrap of card stock that is a negative of a die cut that I just couldn't toss.  But I'm not sure if I like how this turned out....


I've been trying to use up some scraps and this card did that but....  I don't know.  Even hubby said this isn't quite up to the "quality" I usually do.  Not sure what I think.  The stamps are by Red Rubber Designs, the set called Happily Grateful.


I used my Stardust Clear gel pen on the flowers and butterfly and you sort of can see that here.  The butterfly was inked with my Calypso K-Pad as I wanted it colorful.

My next post will be of a card in the Michelle Zindorf style.  I REALLY like it and you will probably get to see my desk as it'll be WEDNESDAY!  Workdesk Wednesday!  As of this moment my desk is clean - mostly anyway. I do have to die cut LOTS of snowflakes for my class on Thursday so my Big Shot will probably be on my desk with oodles of white scraps to cut.  And I recently purchased the Envelope Punch Board by We R Memory Keepers which I'm getting the hang of.  Pretty cool.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Three Daisies

I finally finished my 4th and final card for my end of August class at AZ Scrapbooking. Whew!  And for once I have my samples done before our monthly meeting next Monday!  The card still uses the Fabulous Fashion Daisy stamp set by Katy Sue Designs.


After stamping the "bubbles" I think I should have overlapped the big bubble  at the corners instead of trying to overlap at the middle of the card.  Truth be known...... I didn't realize they'd overlap.  Oh well.  The "students" can do what they want.


I colored the daisies with my Copics and have now put them away in their box to free up my desk.  I had a bunch of them out and you can see them in my last post.  Hmmm.... now I think I'll head over to Pinterest or do some blurfing for some ideas!

And I haven't shown you a picture of a couple potato cannon contestants!  That was SO much fun to watch....


This is Mary.  Her cannon didn't place in the top 3 but she sure gave it a good effort!  Her boyfriend didn't do well, either, but they had a blast!


And the winner.... Rube.  His potato went 500'.  He got a nice prize basket!  After the meal and contest we just about went into Tucson to my aunt's house to watch the 4th of July fireworks but hubby was tired and we were heading out to Williams, AZ after I cleaned the next day.


Last Saturday we took the Grand Canyon Railroad (first class at that!) to the Grand Canyon.  There is NO way to get a picture that does it justice but this is the view to the west of where we got off the train.  Absolutely awe inspiring!  We walked about 500' down the Bright Angel Trail and it was a bit steep.  Took twice as long to come back up.  We got rained on just before boarding the train but that felt good!  Was a great weekend and we played tourist to the hilt!

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Workdesk Week 214 and Folks Anniversary Card

It's another Wednesday!  The fun day you can enjoy an international blog hop of work desks! Thanks to Julia at the Stamping Ground for starting, organizing, and allowing so many to take part!  My poor desk hasn't changed much since we took a little trip to northern Arizona this past weekend.  I'll post a couple pictures on my next post of our trip but today....   here's my desk.


I've been refilling my E35 Copic marker.  When they dry out they take a LOT of ink!  It's almost fully re-inked but still needs a few more drops.  There are some stamps to the left of my Scor-Pal with mat (this is my actual working space with scrap paper to protect the mat).  To the right some die cut snowflakes as I prepare for my Christmas in July class on the 18th.  So far I have 1 "student" and 1 wanting a kit.  Behind the Copic marker are a bunch of markers that I've been using on my August class samples.  I have 1 more card to complete before Monday.  So I'll be doing some blurfing (blog surfing) on the desks to get some ideas.


Last Friday was my folks anniversary.  This is the card I made for them.  I'm not crazy about my Spellbinder label for the text (by Red Rubber Designs).  I should have used a different one.  I used the same label inside for the sentiment.  The Dahlia is by Nina B Designs and I think can be purchased from Penny Black stamps.


I stamped the full flower from the set with VersaMark ink then dusted with a darker pink chalk on the pink base.  After coloring the flower on the white card stock I used an embossing folder to add the diamond pattern.  Since the label's next size up was too large I used a matching Copic marker to outline the label.  My folks liked the card.  What do you think?

So now if you'd leave a comment about my card or desk I'd love to hear from you then please go back to the top of this post and click on Julia's blog to go around the world!  Be sure you have your favorite beverage and enjoy!

Monday, July 8, 2013

A "Mad Hatter" Card?

This 3rd card using the Katy Sue Designs stamp sets kinda reminds me of the odd ball hats on Alice in Wonderland.  Don't know why but that thought crossed my mind.  Does this card give you any of those ideas?


This is an easy card layout yet I like the way it developed.


I tried to match my Copic markers to the papers used and I think I did pretty good at that.  Again I used the Stardust Clear Gel pen on the butterfly.  I like the corner images and just had to add them to this card.  They help make the eyes flow from corner to corner.  I used a marker to edge the white scalloped oval as the next size die was too big for placement.  I probably should have used a lighter color but it does make the image area pop a bit more.  Have you been enjoying the samples for this August class?  I have to make 1 more sample and hope to get it done this week.

Friday, July 5, 2013

A Day Over Fabulous

I've gotten pictures downloaded of the 2nd card sample toward my August class using the Daisy Fabulous Sentiments sets by Katy Sue Designs.  They're such girly sets and a real challenge for me.  I do appreciate Pinterest and blogs that I blurf for inspiration and ideas.


I used my scalloped circle die and an embossing folder by Spellbinders on this card.  I think I'm getting the hang of my Big Shot but still have brain burps on some things.


I used my Stardust Clear Gel pen on the wings of the butterfly and colored using my Copics. This set is growing on me now.  I have a 3rd card completed and will post it next. I gotta have the 4th done before July 15 as that's when us "instructors" meet with Debi, the AZ Scrapbooking store owner for our monthly meeting. I also need to make a birthday card for our youngest son's girlfriend.  Will be busy next week.

Today we're headed to Williams, AZ to play tourist for a couple of days.  We needed to "get out of Dodge" and relax and plan on riding The Train to the Grand Canyon (hope they don't need reservations as I didn't get any made) and go through Bearizona.  We've heard lots of good things about both and hope to escape some of the heat of our area.  (I will have the lap top to check in and moderate any comments.)

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Information about the Declaration of Independence

In Congress, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness—-That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the Present King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public Good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing Importance, unless suspended in their Operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the Accommodation of large Districts of People; unless those People would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature, a Right inestimable to them, and formidable to Tyrants only.

He has called together Legislative Bodies at Places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the Depository of their public Records, for the sole Purpose of fatiguing them into Compliance with his Measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly Firmness his Invasions on the Rights of the People.

He has refused for a long Time, after such Dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the Dangers of Invasion from without, and Convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the Population of these States; for that Purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their Migrations hither, and raising the Conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the Tenure of their Offices, and Amount and Payment of their Salaries.

He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their Substance.

He has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our Legislature.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World:

For imposing taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended Offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an arbitrary Government, and enlarging its Boundaries, so as to render it at once an Example and fit Instrument for introducing the same absolute Rule in these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with Powers to legislate for us in all Cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our Seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our Towns, and destroyed the Lives of our People.

He is, at this Time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the Works of Death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the Executioners of their Friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic Insurrections among us, and has endeavoured to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated Injury. A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People.

Nor have we been wanting in Attentions to our British Brethren. We have warned them from Time to Time of Attempts by their Legislature to extend an unwarrantable Jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the Circumstances of our Emigration and Settlement here. We have appealed to their native Justice and Magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the Ties of our common Kindred to disavow these Usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our Connections and Correspondence. They too have been deaf to the Voice of Justice and of Consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the Necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of Mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace, Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of the divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serv
ing in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.

Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight just the British.

We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government!

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember: freedom is never free!



Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Lady Liberty and Work Desk

I've been hustling this week getting cards made, getting inspiration from Pinterest and blurfing (blog surfing), getting my blogs moved over to Bloglovin (that was a piece of cake, so to speak), working, and getting ready to take a long weekend with hubby. And tomorrow we'll be attending a church picnic and watching the potato cannon contest.  I did discover yesterday that all my blogs were back on Google Reader on my blog's dashboard page after being gone for a day.  I wonder what's going on....  Anyway.....


This is week 213 and if you want to know more AND see other fabulous desks check out the Stamping Ground!!! Usually there's about 150 paper crafters taking part in this international blog "hop". Julia has done a wonderful job uniting so many!  Now, looking at my desk there are stamps on the left and top of my scrap paper, the card featured here, Copic markers I'm using for my class samples (class is in August), and what not.  Pretty busy.

I also made a card using the sketch from the Sketch Challenge #179 on the Operation Write Home blog.


The coordinating papers are from the "Let Freedom Ring" pack by Pebbles.  Lady Liberty is by Red Rubber Designs, and the God Bless America is from The Angel Company.


I decided to do some blue sponging around the image so I used some posty notes to create a frame.  To me there was too much white space since there isn't any white anywhere else.  I am a very patriotic person and my nation means so very much to me.  We attended a special program this past Saturday evening at the Green Valley Baptist church that was fantastic!  Costumes for George Washington, Abe Lincoln, and the other fabulous characters involved came from a Hollywood studio!  Very authentic!

Now, before you head over to Julia's I better explain about the potato cannon a bit.  It is made from PVC plastic pipe, uses aerosol hair spray for the propellant, and a little butane lighter for the igniter.  I found this LINK to give you an idea.  Last year's winning launch sent the spud 600' or about 2 football fields.

So please leave a comment about my desk or card then hop over to Julia's and check out the other desks for some great inspiration and even some organizational tips!  Be sure you have a cuppa coffee or tea!

And Happy 4th of July!!!